Shehnaaz Suliman, chief executive of Dallas-based ReCode Therapeutics, is among 71 female biotech CEOs authoring a letter to elected officials and lawmakers that condemns the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade.
The letter has since been signed by dozens more, marking a collective message from women in biotech leadership across the country.
“We join the resounding millions in chorus to express our profound dismay and disappointment at the United States Supreme Court’s decisions to strike down and ignore our fundamental rights as women to make personal reproductive health choices and for clinicians to practice evidence-based medicine without fear of reprisal,” the letter read.
The letter was posted to Suliman’s LinkedIn profile and received messages of support from other women and men from across the industry. The biotech executives join other medical groups, like National Nurses United and the American Medical Association, in denouncing the Supreme Court decision that eliminated constitutional protection for abortion.
“As providers, innovators, caregivers and leaders at the forefront of innovation for patients and women — we believe that our reproductive choices are fundamental human rights that deserve to be upheld,” wrote Suliman on the post.
“Join me and fellow women leaders in biotech as we join a sea of voices to amplify the call for reproductive health rights for all women.”
About 23% of biotech CEOs identified as women in 2021, according to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Biotech has been historically dominated by men, particularly in leadership roles.
Of this year’s top 25 biotech CEOs, only three are women, according to The Healthcare Technology Report. That’s a 300% improvement over last year, when women were absent from the list. Sarah Boyce, president and CEO of Avidity Biosciences, was the only one of this year’s trio to sign the letter.
Women faculty in STEM fields have a more difficult time accessing venture capital funding networks, preventing them from being able to commercialize and monetize their research, according to Massachusetts Institute of Technology biology professor Nancy Hopkins. That can prevent women from building biotech startups and entering leadership roles in the field.
The letter also expressed general frustration with the state of the country, saying the decision is “notable and discouraging.” It described the Roe vs. Wade decision as a blow to underrepresented groups, “especially for women, underrepresented minorities and LGBTQIA+ communities” of which many female biotech executives identify.
“Whilst our nation was once conceived as a beacon of liberty for all, and an inclusive democracy and protector of fundamental rights, this court’s decision forces us to recognize the jolting reality that not all Americans are seen as equal,” the letter said. “We will not stand by silently. Our voices rise. We strongly dissent.”
Suliman, who spearheaded the collection of signatures, joined the ranks of female biotech CEOs in January when she took over ReCode Therapeutics. The company creates drug delivery systems for respiratory illnesses and recently closed a $200 million investment round. Suliman has worked in biotech for more than 25 years.
“I’m so thrilled for the opportunity to be another female leader in the space and to create some support for other female CEOs,” Suliman told The Dallas Morning News when she was named CEO.
